Most men rememberd that they
had approached the circle from the west while the Beastmen came from the
east. None knew the exact numbers of the beasts, but it was agreed that
the forces were almost equal in number [OOC-
Not really, armies were Beastmen- 2 Big blocks of Gors, 3 Minos, 3 Chariots
(one with Chieftain), 1 Shaman (lvl 2) and 5 hounds VS 10 xbows, 10 archers,
5 Huntsmen, 5 Pistoliers, 24 Free Company, 24 Halberds (detachment of 10
Free Company), Halfling Hot Pot and 2 Battle Priests],
and that the beasts massed their chariots in the north across from the
crossbows and the halfling stew pot. Most knew that the large bullheaded
creatures were in the centre, ahead of the groups of beasts and across
from their own main units.
After that though, most groups
knew only their role in the battle. Despite fleeing from the field, the
Huntsmen felt they had done their job well, distracting the bull-creatures
and firing an opening volley that dropped 2 of the hounds and caused the
others to turn tail and run.
The Hot Pot crew were also
happy with their contribution, especially their fourth shot, which landed
directly in the middle of a group of beasts within Sigmar’s circle and
drove them away howling in fear and panic- it was no shame to them that
they then had to flee from one of the chariots.
The crossbows were sullen
and quiet. Though they had added to the volley that drove the second group
of beasts from the circle, they were not quick enough to escape the chariot
and had lost almost half their number to the beasts.
None of the Free Companies
were happy. Though the unit knew it was in an unenviable position, being
closest of the main units to the beasts chariots, they were disappointed
in their own courage. Though the beat off the first chariots charge, they
could not catch and destroy the machine, and when the leader’s chariot
charged, they broke and fled.
The archers lifted their drinks
in toast after toast to dead comrades. They had lost half their number
by battles end, but had stood firm and stopped the charge of the largest
creatures in the beasts’ herd.
The Halberdiers seemed uncertain.
They had been Piotr’s bodyguard, and brought him safe to the circle, but
did not see any real battle- the bull headed creatures had fled from their
charge [OOC- When the archers didn’t
break, the halberds charge the minos in the flank and the minos panicked]
and by the time the leader on
his chariot had reached them, the circle was secure and Sigmar himself
appeared to drive away the beasts.
The Pistoliers mood was even
harder to judge. They knew it was they that won the battle-- breaking one
of the big beast units, killing the last of bullcreatures, driving off
the hounds after the beasts’ magic had compelled them to fight once more,
and contributing to the volleys that eventually drove the beasts from the
circle-- yet, they were not happy. They felt that they could have done
better and were disappointed in their riding skills. They knew that many
of today’s deaths were unnecessary. Had they rode just a little faster,
they could have ended the battle early. Instead of fleeing from the apparition
of Sigmar, the foul shaman of the beasts should have been trampled beneath
their hooves and the flank of the second beasts unit shattered by their
attack. Though to the rest they were heroes, the burden of guilt lay heavy
on them. Brother Piotr though would have none of that, and by the time
the fires had died to embers, all the men felt like heroes and were ready
once more to march forth in the name of Sigmar and Cleansing the world
with his holy flame.
[OOC- Pistoliers explanation- 3rd turn,
the two gors units are in the circle side by side, the pistoliers just
managed to make a charge into the flank of the Gor unit with the Shaman
in it. They manage to break the unit, but when the Gors only fled 7”, the
Pistoliers stumbled and rolled only 6”. So, not only did they not get to
flank and hopefully break the second unit, they didn’t even catch the shaman’s
unit. Luckily, my opponent managed to fail a number of panic tests, and
the pistoliers managed to use their stand and shoot to good effect. They
also made an important LD test to not break when charged by the Mino champ
(with only 1 wound left). In the second round challenge, the Marksmen managed
to do the final wound before the Mino could strike with his 2 Handed Weapon.
This left the Pistoliers and the front rank of the Halberds in the circle.
Though the halberds were flank charged by the Chieftain’s chariot, the
priest was still in the circle for the magic phase. When he was able to
dispel the Shaman’s Crows’ Feast on the Pistoliers, the game was effectively
over. Because of the scenario rules, the Empire came away with the win,
but by the end of the game (assuming the halberds would have broken which
is likely) all I had left was 3 Pistoliers and 5 archers, while he had
two half strength units of gors (one fleeing), 3 chariots and 2 fleeing
hounds.
For those of you who think I was a bastard
to play a scenario where the heaviest hitting part of his army could get
to the objective, I would like to note that I warned him of that problem
and asked if he would like to play a regular game. He declined.]